Team:METU-Gene/Collagen Sponge

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The release rate of bioactive hEGF from crosslinking collagen sponges ==


The purpose of this study was to prepare recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) collagen sponges for topical applications and investigate the effects of different types of crosslinked collagen sponges as platforms for the controlled release of rhEGF.


The microstructure and the drug release rates of collagen sponges were modified through treatment with different types (glutaraldehyde (GTA), genipin and 1-ethyl-3- (3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC)), different concentrations of crosslinking agents and various preparation conditions.


A good correlation was obtained for in vitro release rates of rhEGF using the power model. The crosslinked rhEGF collagen sponges showed a successful delivery of rhEGF in bioactive form to stimulate cell proliferation.


In addition, EGF can inhibit gastric acid secretions in the stomach, enhance the proliferation and keratinization of epithelial tissues and accelerate wound healing. Due to its wound healing properties, EGF is an attractive candidate for a therapeutic drug. Studies have demonstrated that topical applications of EGF promote wound healing in healthy and impaired healing animals.


Since Carpenter and co-workers first reported that for a mitogenic effect of EGF, a continuous exposure of the target cells to EGF was required for a minimum of 6–12 h, maintaining an effective topical concentration at the wound site for a certain period of time has become vital in the application of EGF. Indeed, we increased this continuous exposures by using Quaroum Sensing Mechanism of E.coli.



Collagen is a major constituent of the connective tissue and is potentially a highly useful biomaterial. It has characteristics that are suitable in medical application, such as biodegradability and weak antigenicity, and it has been used in resorbable surgical sutures, hemostatic agents, and wound dressings for many years.


An in vitro controlled release study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) release from the different degree of crosslinked collagen sponges.


Characterization of the rhEGF-collagen sponges


[1]Determination of the degree of crosslinking

The crosslinking degree could then be obtained from the differences between the absorbance values before and after the crosslinking. The equation is as follows: